Chapter Five tells the stories of the actors (male and female!) who played Mr. Darcy before Laurence Olivier took his star turn as the hero in the first Hollywood Austen, MGM's Pride and Prejudice (1940). (For more on Olivier, see Chapter Six.) Below are images of some of the Darcys mentioned in The Making of Jane Austen's Chapter Five.

FIRST DARCY: E. Harcourt Williams took the stage as Mr. Darcy in 1901, making him the first known professional actor to do so. He was notable for Shakespearean roles, playing Romeo (center) and Othello (right.)

OLDEST DARCY: Ben Webster played Mr. Darcy in 1922. He was a remarkable 57 years old at the time, making him the oldest known professional actor cast in the role. His wife, actor Dame May Whitty, performed alongside him--as his future mother-in-law, Mrs. Bennet.

Is It right for your book club?

Yes, definitely! I'd love to hear from you if you're considering it.

This book works best in clubs familiar with Austen's fiction OR its film adaptations. (You could read or watch Pride and Prejudice and then choose this book.)